Gaggle over Chicago

[kerick]

At work Thursday I happened to look up into the clear blue sky and saw a large airliner size aircraft below contrail altitude with three much smaller aircraft following it. One on each side and one maybe a mile behind the large aircraft. Tanker being followed by fighters? Don't know.

[Captain Canada]

Probably. I was lucky enough to see the RAF heading to Red Flag years ago, a pair of VC.10s with a bunch of little birds. They looked like Jags from the distance. I was also lucky enough to see a squadron of KC-135s returning to Selfeidge ANG base in MI from the first Gulf War. They were low as its only about 60 kms away. What a sight !

[kerick]

It's a pretty rare sight around here. Last time I saw anything involving fighters a big birds was a month or so after 9-11 and two F-16 chased a 747 to o'Hare airport after a passenger went nuts on the plane.

[pyro-manic]

A practice intercept, maybe?

[kerick]

The aircraft I saw last Thursday were definitely in formation. The ones after 9-11 were not practicing.